Motivated harriers hit Granite Course

Published 12:00 am, Saturday, September 6, 2014

GRANITE CITY - Motivation. On Saturday, it was the one thing cross country members could provide for their fellow teammates. Hoots and hollers filled Wilson Park at the Granite City Invitational as the runners made their way to the finish line. Motivational shouts like, “Do you want to break 17?” and, “Keep it up! You’re almost there.”

The three-mile course was filled with runners from 37 schools looking to get grip on their cross country season.

O’Fallon’s Dorrian Gordon was the boys varsity winner in a time of 15:11. Springfield’s Heath Warren was second with a time of 15:20, and third place went to Edwardsville’s Brydon Groves-Scott with a time of 15:26.

O’Fallon won the boys team title with 35 points followed by Edwardsville with 60 points.

Edwardsville was led by Groves-Scott and Wes Schoenthal, who was fourth.

Elise Marker from Villa Duchesne won the girls varsity race with a time of 18:31. Second place went to Jacksonville’s Emma Chelsvig in a finishing time of 18:42. Edwardsville’s Lizzie Lynn finished third with a time of 18:57.

Civic Memorial coach Clint Waters said working on times and getting comfortable is a focus.

“People started racing today, not just getting into shape,” Waters said.

In the girls race, Edwardsville’s Lizzie Lynn was third and the Tigers edged O’Fallon for the team crown.

Elise Marker of Villa Duchesne High School in St. Louis won in a time of 18:31. Emma Chelsvig, of Jacksonville was third and Lynn took third in a time of 18:57.

It is a race that may only last about 18 to 23 minutes, but the runners find it critical when they are able to cut down just 10 to 20 seconds. CM’s Alex Singleton is managing to cut down her time with each race.

“It feels pretty good,” Singleton said when asked how she felt about improving her time. Singleton and among other racers are looking to improve leg strength and endurance.

Next, week, the cross country season gets into full swing with several area meets.

On Wednesday, Alton, Carlinville, East Alton-Wood River, Metro East Lutheran and Roxana will be among the teams entered in the Edwardsville Fall Classic at SIUE, set to begin at 4 p.m.

Next Saturday, Alton will run at the Belleville West Invitational at 9 a.m.; Edwardsville, Carlinville, Jersey and Roxana will be entered in the Peoria Woodruff Invitational at 9 a.m. and Gillespie will be at the Petersburg PORTA Invitational at 10 a.m.